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Desert Signal IT Holiday Guide: Staying Connected When the Internet Goes Down

Published: November 25, 2025 · Holiday Guide · Tucson & Southern Arizona

Desert Signal IT Holiday Guide: Staying Connected When the Internet Goes Down

Published: November 25, 2025

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. While we’re busy planning meals, trips and family time, many big tech companies and service providers are closing offices or working with limited staff. That means if something goes wrong with your internet or smart devices, getting support can feel like waiting on hold forever. At Desert Signal IT, we want you to have peace of mind — even when everyone else is OOO. Here’s a friendly guide you can bookmark for those unexpected internet outages or slowdowns.

Why outages happen (and why they’re more common during holidays)

Internet hiccups are a fact of life. The average American experiences about 15 hours of internet downtime each year safewise.com . During peak holiday weeks, the load on networks and cloud services increases as families stream movies, order gifts online and video-chat loved ones. Weather events like winter storms can knock out power lines or damage fiber cables, and some outages come from issues with major cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, which power many of the apps we use tech.yahoo.com .

Build your own reliability plan

Instead of panicking when the Wi-Fi goes out, prepare ahead of time. Here are some practical steps you can take to make sure you can still get things done — or at least stay entertained — when an outage strikes.

1. Diversify your connections

Have a backup internet source. If you absolutely need constant connectivity (for medical devices or remote work), consider a cellular hotspot or Starlink dish. Experts note that satellite internet like Starlink offers service even when local lines are down, but it costs around $120 a month and requires clear view of the sky safewise.com . A more affordable option is a cellular-based hotspot, which can be turned on and off as needed and uses multiple carriers so you aren’t dependent on one network safewise.com .

Use multiple cloud services. Don’t store all your important files in one place. Keeping documents in a mix of Google Drive, Dropbox and iCloud means you’re less likely to lose access if one goes down tech.yahoo.com .

Keep some cash and multiple bank accounts. Online banking apps can be impacted by outages. Financial experts recommend parking money in more than one account and keeping some physical cash on hand for emergencies tech.yahoo.com .

2. Check the basics first

Before you assume the worst, try these quick troubleshooting steps:

  • Restart your modem, router and devices — many glitches are resolved by a simple reboot highspeedinternet.com .
  • Inspect cables and power. Make sure all cords are firmly plugged in and that power hasn’t been interrupted by a tripped breaker.
  • Look for service outages. Visit websites like Downdetector or your service provider’s status page to see if other users are reporting problems tech.yahoo.com .
  • Reduce network load. Disconnect devices you aren’t using. Streaming multiple 4K videos at once can slow everyone down highspeedinternet.com .

3. Maintain alternative communication channels

When messaging apps fail, fall back to older technologies:

  • SMS texting and traditional phone calls run on separate infrastructure. Having up-to-date phone numbers for loved ones means you can still reach them when WhatsApp or Snapchat is down tech.yahoo.com .
  • If your cell service is affected, enable Wi-Fi calling (works over any available Wi-Fi network) or switch to your backup hotspot tech.yahoo.com .

4. Prepare your hardware

Use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to keep your modem and router running during short power blips. Even a small battery backup can give you an extra hour of connectivity.

Keep firmware updated and replace outdated equipment. Manufacturers release security and performance fixes that can prevent outages techtimes.com .

Invest in a quality surge protector to safeguard against power surges from holiday lights or storms.

5. Have an offline plan

Sometimes, no matter how prepared you are, the internet will be down for a while. Plan a few activities that don’t require connectivity:

  • Download movies or shows ahead of time for offline viewing.
  • Print or save important documents and directions locally.
  • Keep board games, books or crafts handy for family downtime.

6. Know when to call for help

If you’ve checked your gear and confirmed that service is back for others but your connection is still out, it’s time to get assistance. During the holidays, wait times with national providers can be long. That’s where Desert Signal IT comes in. We’re local, responsive and happy to troubleshoot your network when you need it most.

Final thoughts and a friendly reminder

Outages happen — sometimes at the worst possible moments. Taking a few simple steps now can make those hiccups far less stressful later. Remember the wise advice to “not put all your eggs in one digital basket” tech.yahoo.com . Spread out your services, keep backups handy and stay calm when the lights flicker. And if you need a hand, Desert Signal IT is just a phone call or text away. We’ll help you get back online so you can enjoy your holidays without tech headaches.

Stay safe, stay connected, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!